This was a very eye-opening book. Anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of why Putin and his cronies think like they do will do well to read this book.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, if it was going to be a complete data driven history or a more historical narrative, however it was a delightful blend of story telling and author anecdotes. I do enjoy these types of capsule reads, which also suggest titles for further reading. The author did a wonderful job in part one and two of explaining the players and setting the map for the building conflicts. Although I feel like most people are familiar with Peter the Great onward, it was a fascinating read watching the fabric of the Russian monarchy slowly deteriorate.